Name and Location
Technical ammonium nitrate production facility (TANPF), Burrup peninsula, Australia.

Client
Burrup Nitrates, a joint venture between Orica Mining Services (45%), Yara International (45%) and the Apache Corporation (10%).

Yara will be the operator of the ammonium nitrate plant and Orica will manage the sales and distribution.

Project Description
The project will entail the construction and operation of a 330 000 t/y ammonium nitrate plant.

The TANPF will contain three major process units, each producing a separate product in the manufacturing process, namely a nitric acid plant to convert ammonia and atmospheric air into nitric acid; an ammonium nitrate solution plant to convert ammonia and nitric acid into an ammonium nitrate solution; and a technical ammonium nitrate plant to convert ammonium nitrate into technical ammonium nitrate prills.

The project will source ammonia from the nearby Pilbara fertiliser plant to produce a base ingredient for explosives.

In addition to these three plants, the TANPF will include storage, loading and transport facilities, comprising a liquid ammonia pipeline between the Burrup Fertilisers and Burrup Nitrates plants; bulk and tagged technical ammonium nitrate storage buildings; a bulk loading system, a bagging unit and truck loading system; and ammonium nitrate and nitric acid storage facilities.

Other facilities include a seawater cooling tower and a closed-loop water cooling system; a wastewater facility; an electrical power distribution system; an instrument and plant air system; an administration, maintenance and warehouse unit; as well as laydown areas and access roads.

Value
The project will cost about $800-million.

Duration
The plant is scheduled for completion in 2015.

Latest Developments
Forge Group has been awarded a A$70-million contract by lead contractor Técnicas Reunidas for construction of the TANPF.

Construction of the processing facility will start in September and is due for completion in May 2015. It will entail structural, mechanical, electrical and instrumentation installation by Forge Group Construction.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Técnicas Reunidas (engineering, procurement and construction contractor) and Forge Construction Group (construction of the TANPF).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Burrup Nitrates principal engineer: projects Kaushik Gor, tel +61 8 6265 7500.
Forge Group Construction, tel +61 8 6389 8500, fax +61 8 6389 8599 or email info@forgegroup.com.au.